It’d take two to tango with regards to NASCAR fights, however as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. simply discovered, typically just one driver will get punished.
Stenhouse Jr. is struggling via a reasonably depressing season for JTG Daugherty Racing, however he made headlines outdoors the same old racing media because of his post-race combat with Kyle Busch after the Might 19 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Although the meat between the 2 drivers started on the monitor through the race’s first two laps, it did not finish there. Stenhouse Jr. waited for Busch to complete his night time and confronted him afterward, throwing one massive proper hand earlier than others shortly jumped in, together with crew members and Stenhouse’s father.
Due to the premeditated nature of the brawl, there was widespread hypothesis that Stenhouse Jr. might obtain a suspension that might trigger him to overlook Cup Sequence races. NASCAR determined towards that, however did hit him with a $75,000 high-quality — which is the biggest high-quality the governing physique has ever levied for a combat, per the AP.
Others obtained self-discipline as effectively. Two of Stenhouse’s crew members obtained multi-race suspensions, whereas Stenhouse’s father was suspended indefinitely, a punishment in step with the one given to the daddy of Nick Sanchez when he grew to become a part of a combat after a Truck Sequence race final fall.
One notable individual escaped penalties of any type: Busch, who arguably was the catalyst because it appeared he wrecked Stenhouse on objective on lap 2 of the All-Star Race. NASCAR clearly sees a distinction between heat-of-the-moment emotion on a comparatively low velocity monitor and ready round hours after crashing out to take a swing at a fellow competitor.
The query now’s whether or not the high-quality will probably be a deterrent from any additional dangerous blood between the 2 drivers, who’ve tangled earlier than with out it coming to fisticuffs. Stenhouse Jr. advised throughout their scuffle that he would look to wreck Busch on this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, however maybe being lighter within the pockets will change his thoughts about that.
